What are the Most Common Causes of Anxiety?

Anxiety is a psychological condition which manifests itself in various ways associated with behavior, feeling, and thinking. It is referred to in medical circles as GAD or generalized anxiety disorder. It is portrayed by extreme uneasiness of mind, a painful and apprehensive state, over an imminent or anticipated ill. The situation which calls forth such unease may be real or imagined in nature.

Anxiety is typically a response to a stressful or tension-filled situation. There are many causes of anxiety. They range from being exposed to a pertinent stimulus to having the genetic predisposition for it.

Anxiety disorders are usually brought to a doctor’s attention by the patient himself who notices constant attacks of apprehension, sometimes with sufficient cause, sometimes without. The patient may even experience some physical discomforts which may be traced to chronic anxiety.

The doctor will try to ascertain a physical cause for the anxiety-associated symptoms. He may conduct a physical assessment and go over the patient’s medical record to determine if the patient has previous similar anxiety episodes. If he fails to find a physical cause for the anxiety, he may recommend the patient to consult a psychiatrist or psychologist for a more extensive psychological evaluation. These specialists have broad training in mental/socio/emotional health and are thus better equipped to deal with this type of disorder.

There are several tools at the disposal of a psychiatrist or psychologist to help him evaluate the patient’s state of mind. In-depth interviews are one. Written psychological exams are another. The specialist will try to diagnose the patient based on the intensity, as well as on the frequency, of the bouts of anxiety. He will try to decide how badly the patient’s daily functioning is affected by the anxiety. He will look for behavioral indications of particular disorders to better determine what can be done to treat the particular disorder once it is diagnosed.

Factors outside the individual frequently cause anxiety disorder. These causes of anxiety may be varied and many. Trauma or situations of extreme stress can trigger anxiety. A death of a spouse or loved one has been identified to contribute significantly to anxiety disorders. Going through divorce proceedings is another. Another possible cause is having to cope with serious financial difficulties. Having to retire and face a life seemingly bereft of its usual meaningfulness and productivity may also be highly stressful. Being pregnant and worried about new responsibilities that having a child to care for brings may also provoke anxious feelings.

Even something as everyday and routine as work can also result in grave anxieties. A job entails having to get along with your co-workers. Work involves having a superior to please. Work involves thoughts about getting fair pay for work rendered. All of these are occasions for worry and anxiety.

Genetics is a considerable contributing factor to contend with in anxiety disorders. Some people are more strongly predisposed to develop anxiety disorders than other people. Confronted with the same situation, people may react differently. In the year 2008, some scientists in Finland were able to identify particular genes which showed a strong link to specific anxiety problems.

An individual’s disposition has a lot to do with the probability of developing anxiety disorders. The more positive a spin that a person puts to what life hands him, the less likely he is to have anxiety problems. A gung-ho, happy frame of mind is a good hedge against anxiety. A dark, gloomy temperament invites anxiety attacks. When you expect the worse, you are likely to have panic or anxiety attacks.